Susuruka Susuranka Shinsaibashi

"Susuruka, Susuranka. Shinsaibashi" is a specialty mapo tofu ramen shop located in the basement of Daiichi KS Building B1F in Higashi Shinsaibashi. It's a chain originating from Nara Prefecture, frequently featured in media for being founded by Kindai University students. The shop has gained popularity on social media, attracting a lively mix of roughly half foreign and half Japanese customers. The main menu focuses on a single type of mapo tofu ramen, available in three styles: "Soup-based," "Soupless," or "Mazemen" (mixed noodles). A signature highlight is the "Aburi Cheese" (seared cheese) topping; adding it allows you to enjoy the spectacle of cheese being torched right before your eyes. The soup-based version is slightly milder in spice, while the soupless option offers a richer experience with the mapo directly coating the noodles. Spice and sansho (Japanese peppercorn) numbness can be escalated to "Jigoku" (Hell) for an additional fee. For a popular finishing touch (shime), customers often add "Sababushi Oimeshi" (mackerel flakes extra rice) for 250 yen or "Mayaku Tamago Oimeshi" (addictive egg extra rice) to mix with their leftover rice. The noodles are medium-thick to thick and wavy, specifically designed to scoop up the rich mapo tofu sauce. The dish features layers of sansho numbness, garlic, and the richness of minced meat, expertly balancing deep flavor and umami within its spiciness. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, the shop operates late into the night until the following morning, fulfilling the demand for "shime-ra" (late-night ramen) in the Minami area. The walls of the dimly lit staircase leading down to the basement are lined with celebrity autographs. Inside, the lighting is subdued, creating a calm atmosphere, and the interior is suitable even for couples.